Can I Get a Witness?
In every season of the church’s life, we long for spiritual revival—a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit that transforms hearts, invigorates our worship, and ignites a passion for Jesus in our lives and communities. But, consider this: One of the most powerful ways to spark revival begins with something simple: sharing your testimony.
Throughout Scripture, we see the power of personal testimony. The psalmist declares, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe” (Psalm 107:2). Jesus commissioned a man freed from demonic oppression to “go home to your people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (Mark 5:19). The early church grew and flourished as ordinary believers bore witness to what Jesus had done in their lives.
Today,ourworldstilldesperatelyneedshope,healing,and direction. People are longing for authenticity—for evidence of God’s presence and power. While sermons, programs, and eventsplayasignificantroleinGod’swork,nothingresonates quite like a personal story. Sharing your testimony isn’t just an encouragement for others; it’s a spiritual discipline that can lead to revival.
Manyofushesitatetoshareourfaith because we feel inadequate or unprepared. Maybe you think: “I’m not a theologian. What if I don’t have the answers?” Sharing your testimony isn’t about knowing every answer; it’s about tellingthetruthofyourexperiencewith God.
drawing others to seek the Lord.
Even in the book of Acts, we see revival sparked by testimonies. After Pentecost, the apostles shared their firsthandexperiencesofJesus’resurrection.Theearlybelievers sharedtheirfaithwithneighbors,friends,andstrangers.These simple acts of witness brought thousands into the kingdom of God.
When we share our testimonies today, we align ourselves with this powerful legacy. Revival doesn’t always begin with grand gestures; it begins when we open our hearts and allow God’s work in our lives to shine through our words.
If you feel uncertain about sharing your testimony, you’re not alone. Many people find it intimidating at first, but with practice and prayer, it becomes a natural expression of your faith. Here are a few steps to help you get started:
1. PrayforGuidance–BeginbyaskingGodtoshowyou who needs to hear your testimony and to guide your words. TheHolySpiritwillgiveyouthewisdomandcouragetospeak at the right time.
2. ReflectonYourStory–Taketimetothinkabouthow God has worked in your life. What challenges has He brought you through? How has He answered prayers, provided comfort, or led you in a specific direction? Your testimony doesn’t have to be dramatic to be impactful; it just needs to be honest.
3. KeepItSimple–Shareyourstoryinawaythatisclear and relatable. Focus on three main points: your life before Christ, how you encountered Him, and how He has transformed your life since.
Your testimony is unique. No one else has walked your exact journey. God has worked in your life in ways that are deeply personal. Sharing your story demonstrates His faithfulness and reminds others that He is active and alive.
Your testimony is also relatable. While people may argue with theological principles or doctrine, it’s difficult to argue with a personal story. When you share how God has worked in your life, it becomes a powerful witness to the reality of His grace.
Finally,sharingyourtestimonybuildsbridges.Inadivided world, personal stories have the ability to connect us. When youshareyourstruggles,victories,andlessonsGodhastaught you, others can see reflections of their own journeys and feel less alone.
Historically, revivals have often started with small groups of people sharing their personal experiences with God. In the Great Awakening, testimonies of new faith and transformation spread like wildfire, stirring hearts and
4.Be Authentic – Vulnerability is powerful. Don’t be afraid to share struggles, doubts, or ongoing challenges. These elements make your testimony real and relatable.
5.Point to Christ – While your story is unique, the focus should always be on Jesus and His grace. Let your testimony highlight His faithfulness, not just your own efforts.
6.Trust the Results to God –Remember, it’s not your job to change hearts—that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Your role is simply to share what God has done and trust Him with the outcome.
When you share your testimony, you are planting seeds of faith. One conversation can lead to another, creating a ripple effectthatreachesfarbeyondwhatyoucanimagine.Someone who hears your story may be encouraged to share their own testimony, sparking revival in their circle of influence.
As a congregation, imagine the impact we could have if each of us committed to sharing our faith stories with just one person. How might God move among us? How might He draw people to Himself through our obedience?
I challenge you to take a step of faith this week. Pray for an opportunity to share your testimony with a friend, family member, or coworker.
Continued on page 3…
StreetMinistry: The BlessingNever-Ending
by Pen Braister-Sturgis
The morning after Hurricane Helene, I found myself praising God for sparing our lives, our home, and our neighborhood. Because we had lost our electricity and internet during the storm, I really had no idea how bad everything was in our town or surrounding communities. Those first few days were a blur. The only images I clearly remember were those I saw while driving our car. It became obvious very quickly that this hurricane devastated our area. There were downed trees everywhere and power lines all over theroads.Itlookedlikeawarzone.Itfeltasthoughtimestood still in this part of North Carolina. The loss was tremendous.
I vividly remember driving through downtown Asheville, wondering how our homeless friends fared through this devastation, and coming home feeling defeated. How would we continue feeding our homeless friends (we lost many in the flooding) with Manna Food Bank destroyed in the storm? Who’s going to donate sleeping bags and warm clothing for our street friends with so much damage around us? And who’s going to donate for our new homeless – who had never slept in a tent, much less outside in the winter – who were going need blankets, coats, warm clothing, plus replace of all they had lost from their homes? With all these concerns going through my mind, I answered my cell phone – a number I didn’t recognize.
dropping needed items in those locations. We explained that some of our Arden Street Ministry volunteers were taking itemstotheSwannanoaareaonSabbathafternoon.Heagreed to drop off the donations at our church on that afternoon. Along the way from Ohio, he had to change two tires on his trailer, which delayed his arrival to our church.
At almost 8 pm, he pulled his trailer into our church parking lot. For the next two hours, five of us helped to move everything out of his trailer. At one point I told the guy, “You know, your trailer reminds me of the Mary Poppins bag. Things just keep coming out of it.”
Honestly, I couldn’t believe everything he brought us to share with the homeless of Swannanoa. There were over 200 jackets, 270 fleece overalls, countless blankets, 50 brand new sleeping bags,hundredsofbrand-newsocks,boxesofhatsandscarves, 54 propane heaters, and over 30 vacuumed-sealed bags full of clothing.Alsotheywereeachlabeledbygenderandsizewhich made our lives so much easier.
Asmyhusband,Jerry,andIlookedatthegameroominour church’s basement full of these donations, we couldn’t believe our eyes. Later that evening we learned we had received over $20,000 in donateditems.Andtothinkthatatone point I was worried that we wouldn’t have any clothes, blankets and sleeping bags for our new homeless friends.
WhenGodpoursHisblessingsinto ourministry,it’snever-ending.Hedoes it in His time and uses His resources.
AfriendfrommySabbathSchooltoldherfriendaboutour homeless ministry and told her to contact me to see how we couldworktogetherhelpingthesenewhomelesspeopleinour area. All I needed to do was sign up on a FB app “Coats for Appalachia”, and tell them our needs for the new homeless in our area. I told this new group we needed coats, blankets, warm clothing, socks, hats, heaters, and sleeping bags.
WithinafewdaysagentlemanfromOhiorespondedtomy FB request and said he would bring some of the items mentioned above and asked for our church’s address. He planned to stop at a few locations prior to our church,
I’m so grateful and thankful for a God who answers our prayers before we even ask Him. Please continue keeping our homeless ministry in your prayers. We have old homeless to continue feeding in downtown Asheville, and new homeless living by the river in Swannanoa. Just as God provided countless blessings for our street ministry, we will continue being His hands and feet and caring for His brokenhearted sheep.
Continued from page 2… Trust that God will use your words to bring encouragement, hope, and perhaps even salvation.
Revival begins with us—with our willingness to speak, to listen, and to trust God’s power to work through our testimonies. Let us be bold in declaring His goodness, so that others may come to know the One who has transformed our lives.
Yours in Christ, Pastor
Eric
ANewBeginning
by Caddabra Brown
edited by Daniel Reynolds
Examples of new beginnings in the Bible are plentiful.
From start to finish, the Scriptures tell us stories of real people with real issues. We can learn a great deal from them about what to do when God gives you a new beginning.
The month of January is most associated with new beginnings because in the Gregorian calendar, January is the month that begins the new year. This concept came from Roman mythology, as the Roman god Janus – for whom the month is named – was said to be the god of beginnings and transitions.
Regardless of who claims rights on new beginnings, be sure you give the God of heaven first dibs.
NewBeginning:WhatIsIt?
Any opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start over is a newbeginning.Itcouldalsobeachancetopickupwhereyou leftoffinoneseasonoflifetostartatamoreadvancedlevelin another season of life.
A new beginning could be a period of transition. In the Bible, new beginnings usually mean a God-granted opportunity to start again. When God gives you a new beginning, your opportunities will probably not look the same as another person’s. It all depends on each season of your life.
A new beginning can be: Getting baptized, joining a new congregation, starting a degree program, launching a business, getting a promotion, moving to a new city, dating someone new, getting married, having a baby, migrating to a new country, reconnecting with an old friend, changing your diet, or implementing a new exercise program.
While many people use the start of the year for new resolutions, you can determine when you want to start over. The list above has things which are probably not going to happen in January. You can decide to begin working on a goal in the middle of the calendar year if you like. Or maybe as you ponder things on a weekend you can choose to start on Monday. New beginnings are not just for new year resolutions. This is especially true with spiritual new beginnings.
NewBeginning:theSpiritualMeaning
In the Bible, Jesus talks about being born again. This, of course, isn’t physically possible.
What Jesus actually meant was that our hearts need to be submitted to God so that the Holy Spirit can take control of our lives. You no longer operate as though you are on your own and in charge of your own life. Through this new birth, your life can be God-directed, leadingyoutolivethefull,free,abundantlifepromisedtoyou in John 10:10.
When you experience a new beginning born of the Holy Spirit, your whole life is affected. It is really very much like you are a newborn baby. You are given a clean slate. In fact, a whole new book! The decisions you make are different. The way you choose to see challenges changes. The events in your life take on new meaning. Your purpose becomes clearer. Your faith walk becomes more confident.
Throughout your walk with God, you will continue to needthebenefitofnewbeginnings.Youwillstumble,fall,fail, and make mistakes. That’s where you will need the grace of God to start over each and every time. Spiritual new beginnings do not mean you get everything right the first time around. Rather, it’s a process – one that will take your whole life to perfect. That’s why setting spiritual goals is a great thing to do so you can know exactly what you’re workingoneachyear.Thereisnopointinstartingoverifyou never grow.
But while you are working on all that, know this: there is nothingyoucandotoearnyoursalvation.Jesushasdonethis job already and given you the benefits. Your job is to live, walk, and grow in freedom.
NewBeginning:GiveYourselfaNewStart
Godseesyouasabrandnewpersononceyou’vemadethe decisiontostartover.It’skindoflikeyou’removingtoawhole new country where nobody knows you or anything about you. Once you’ve turned a new leaf with God, don’t walk in guilt and fear. God has your back. Walk in confidence that God does not hold your past against you.
If God has given you a second chance, you should probably give yourself one, too. You don’t have the right to judge yourself. “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, andHeknowseverything”1 John 3:20.
When God gives you an opportunity to start a new life, grasp it with all you have in you. Hold on to it with confidence. Don’t allow the appearance of the situation to frighten you awayfromyourblessings.Otherwise,itmighttakeyoulonger to accomplish what God has set out to do for you and in you
and through you. Lots of wasted years.
Youwillhave to work hard and fight just like the Israelites eventually had to do [when they captured the promised land of Canaan]. But you are not alone. The blessing of your new beginningisbeyondthebattle.GodpromisesHiscomfortfor hard times and His victory for your battles.
NewBeginning:WorkWithGodOnYourself
When God gives you a second chance, take time to work on yourself. Go on a retreat. Get into a quiet place. Be more silent. Spend time in the Word. Reflect. Journal. Get therapy. Revamp your meal choices. Read books. Go on a journey of transformation.Set spiritual goals.
no promise might just be a huge steppingstone to something massive.Godmightbeusingthisseasontoprepareyouforit. Don’tmissyouropportunitytogetyourselfready.Remember, Joseph eventually became prime minister of the very place where he was enslaved. Every single experience which led him there, prepared him because he was faithful at every stage.
NewBeginning:BeSureToShareYourTestimony
Someone is waiting to be challenged, touched, inspired, charged, changed by your story of how God picked you up and set you on a new path. They need to hear your story to know that God is in the business of new beginnings. They need to know that it’s never too late to start over.
So, when God is good and ready for you to fulfill your calling, you will have been doing the work of preparation.Make no mistake, the new start God has given you is not just for you; it’s for others who are waiting to be released from their own shackles based on the work you will do with them. The whole point of our Christian walk is to disciple others.
Asyoustartanewjourney,makebetterdecisionsthatyou can be proud of. That will bring positive fruits that God can support. Engage in behaviors that will grow your faith, finances, relationships, health, and career.
NewBeginning:ResurrectYourDevotionalLife
Starting over is a great time to start a gratitude journal. It’s also an even better time to rekindle or start a devotional life. Work on growing your faith by setting some faith goals. Start small. Read a Psalm a day. Or a simple devotional. Or start usingastructuredwayofreadingandstudyingyourBible.Set up and cue a playlist of your favorite praise and worship songs.
“Draw close to God and He will draw close to you” James 4:8. He’s always ready to help you start again, no matter how many times you have strayed or fallen.
NewBeginning:HoweverItLooks,DoYourBest
New beginnings don’t always come on a red carpet or in a box nicely wrapped with a bow on top. Sometimes they can actually look like taking a step back. You might have been disappointedbybeingpassedupforapromotion.Maybeyou got demoted instead of promoted. It’s possible that due to circumstances, you have to give up a well-paying job to settle for something that’s at half or one-third the pay. Perhaps you got married only to realize that things are not what you expected them to be.
“Befaithfulwithlittlethingsand...”Luke16:10.Whatever your hands are doing now, give it your absolute best shot (Eccl.9:10).Gotheextramileevenwhenyoudon’tfeellikeit. Dowhateveryouneedtodotokeepyourselfencouragedand motivated. While you are there, find out what skills God would have you learn from the situation. And in the same breath, find a way to use your gifts to serve someone.
Knowing that this new beginning that seems like it holds
When God gives you a new season, make it your goal to tellothers.Itdoesn’thavetobeonahugeplatformeither.You don’t need YouTube, a pulpit, Instagram or Twitter. Share it with a classmate, a coworker, the woman at the grocery store, while you wait for service. Write it and submit it to a devotional for publishing or for an online magazine. It’s not just your story only. It’s God’s story, too. Share it.
One note of caution: if your story is one that involves trauma, be sure you have healed from it before you share. Learn first to tell your story from a place of power.
NewBeginning:FinalWords
If you look up drawings of Janus [the Roman God for which January is named], you will notice there are two faces, one looking to the left, one looking to the right. That is to mean, one is looking back at the past and one is looking forward to the future.
If you are going to start a new beginning with God, you need to close thedooronthe past. Yes, you should look at it. Yes, you should reflect on it.But no, you should not dwell on it. And you should absolutely not take it with you.
Your past only serves the purpose of motivating you to moveforward.That’sit.Someonesaidyoushouldneverwaste your time looking back because that’s not the direction in which you are moving. They were right. Your old life is gone and the new has come (2 Corinth. 5:17). God says you are new. And that’s all you need to know.
Adapted with permission fromThe Faith Space.Find the full article at www.thefaithspace.com/new-beginnings-in-the-bible/
28 Fundamentals: Experience of Salvation #10
Pawpaw (grandfather, Albert Broot) was sitting at his desk when Mark stepped into the light of the desk lamp and leaned against the doorframe. “You got in late last night.”
“Yes.”Pawpawheldhisforeheadinhishands,elbowsonthe desk.
Mark tilted his head to one side. “You were on a trip somewhere?”
“Yes.Texas.”Pawpawspokequietlywithoutturning,“Iwent to my brother’s funeral.” Pawpaw looked up. “Did you know him?”
“Not really. I met him once or twice.” Mark rested his left hand on his hip. “What happened to him?”
“Life. Viet Nam. But other things before Nam. Other . . . choices.”
“Pawpaw, you’re not making sense.”
PawpawturnedhisdeskchairaroundtofaceMark,hisface amaskofsadness,regret,andheartache.Notears,butafaceof great loss.
“Pawpaw, are you alright?”
“Iwillbe.”PawpawmotionedMark tothetall,wing-backedchair.Pawpaw took a deep breath. “Tell me, Mark, when did God’s plan of salvation begin . . . how far back?”
“From the foundation of the world, Pawpaw, according to Ephesians 1:4.”
“And how do we learn about this plan?”
“We hear it from the Word, Pawpaw, Romans 10:17, probably from a preacher or an evangelist.” Mark sat forward. “Is this a test?”
“No, it didn’t.”
“Really?” Pawpaw was startled. “What happened?”
Mark looked up to meet his grandfather’s eyes. “I discovered that I can’t . . . you know, what Paul says, that we can want to, but we can’t do it. I wanted to.” Mark lowered his head. “And I discovered that I couldn’t – I didn’t follow Him. And I had to decide that I needed help.”
Marklookedupagain,tearsinhiseyes,talkingmorerapidly. “Iwassosorry.IdidsomethingI’mnotproudof.”Mark’svoice lowered to a whisper. “I didn’t want to – but I hurt someone and I was really sorry.”
“So, what did you do, Mark?”
“Irepented,ofcourse.IprayedandtoldGodjusthowsorry I was. I asked Him to forgive me, to please help me never, ever to do it again.” Mark paused and blew out a burst of air from puffed cheeks, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “I surrendered to God.”
“Why did you think that would work?” Pawpaw waited for the answer he hoped was coming.
“BecauseGodpromised.”Marksmileddespitehisweteyes. “’By grace are you saved through faith.’ And I have faith that God will do what He says He will do.” Mark sniffed and swallowed.“AndIacceptedGod’sgiftoftheLamb–youknow, the one Abraham talked about: ‘God will provide His own Lamb.’ I accepted God’s gift of His Lamb – Jesus Christ – to cover my sin.”
“Being born again. A new start.” Pawpaw smiled with his grandson.“TheHebrewwordforforgivenessmeanstocarrya burden.”
“You told me, Pawpaw.” Mark chuckled. “And He did carry it . . . still does, I guess.”
Pawpaw’ssmiledisappeared.“IfIoffertogiveyou$100,isit yours?”
Pawpaw shook his head, reaching out, taking Mark’s hand in his left hand, patting with his right hand. “No, no. I’m just trying to process.” Pawpaw sat back and took a deep breath.
“I know how this works, Pawpaw.” Mark sat forward, his fingersintertwined,armsrestingonhisknees.“Iwentthrough it myself last year. I always knew – from the time I was small –what God wanted me to do. And I chose to accept His plan and follow Him.”
“Did it work out for you?” Pawpaw was listening intently to the grandson he loved.
“Not until I accept it and put it in my bank account.”
“Exactly,” Pawpaw nodded slowly. “My brother chose not to accept God’s gift.”
“He did?” Mark began to understand his Pawpaw’s quiet mood.
“Yes.” Pawpaw slowly lowered his head to stare at his hands. “I tried to tell him. Our sister tried to convince him. He almost did – several times.
“She said that at an evangelistic meeting, hegrippedthepewinfrontofhimuntilhis knuckles turned white. He had tears streaming down his face. But he refused to get up and go forward. He refused to surrender. He told me later that he had never surrendered to anyone and wasn’t about to start now.”
“Why, Pawpaw? He wanted to.”
“Life.Angerwithourfather.Refusingtogiveintoauthority figures. So very sad.”
“I’m sorry, Pawpaw.” Mark reached out and held his grandfather’s hand as Pawpaw’s tears quietly slipped down his beard and dripped onto his rumpled pajamas.
XerxesandEsther: PartXIII
While the Hamana slept with triumphant and savage dreams of Marduka’s dead body bowing down from a towering pole on the morrow, Khshayarsha’s sleep eluded him. His mind kept ranging, seeking—among other things—the answer to a riddle: what was Esetare’s true request? Hadn’t she helped him escape assassination before? Was a life in danger again? Wasshebringinganotherwarning?Wastheresomeclue in the previous event?
It was at the darkest hour of the night, but several of theKing’seunuchswerealwaysinattendance,nomatter the time. He called out for one to wake a scribe and bring to his chamber “the scroll of remembrance and events of the days.”
Eventually, a bleary-eyed scribe appeared with the scroll of records from the correct time and stood before the king with two burning braziers illuminating the words. He began reading and was presently recounting the plot of Bigthan and Teresh to lay hands upon Khshayarsha. He read how the queen made it known to the king, as soon as she received the report from the King’s Gate official Marduka.
insolent Jew, Marduka.
“His majesty is calling for you,” a eunuch motioned to the Hamana, who entered the king’s chambers, bowing before Khshayarsha.
“I’ve been thinking,” said Khshayarsha, “what should be done for a man whom the king wishes to honor?”
Having risen so high and having dined privately just yesterdaywithboththeemperorandQueenEsetare,the Hamana’s pride was as deep as the Great Sea and his ego as boundless as the Southern Desert. He was about to annihilate Marduka, free all Persia from that man’s troublesome tribe, and reach the pinnacle of his career. SurelytherewasnonethatKhshayarshawishedtohonor more than he!
“Well,” said the Hamana, trying to act deferential evenwhilehisheartwasswellingwithself-regard,“there could be no greater honor than for that man to be clothed,yourMajesty,inyourownserviceandauthority. Toshareyourownsplendorwithhimwouldbethemost completehonorofall.Dressthatmanyouwishtohonor in royal robes of the kingdom, which you yourself have worn. Set him on the very horse you ride. And place on his head the emperor’s turban of absolute dominion. Have your high nobles lead this honored man, riding upon your steed, through the open plazaandpublicsquareofShushen, and let them shout as they go, so that everyone takes note: ‘As he serves the king, he becomes more like the king! Khshayarsha shares his own glory and authority with his favored faithful servant. Thus is done for the man whom the patron king delights to honor!’”
“Wait,” interrupted Khshayarsha. “Perhaps this may shed some light upon my queen’s request. What order did we give to heap honor on this Marduka for uncovering the scheme and making the report which saved my life?”
The scribe searched through the scroll to find the answer but found nothing. Amidst the tension, fear, and quick events of the time, an oversight had occurred and nothing had been done to honor Marduka.
Timehadpassedandnowdawnstreakedthesky.The kingsatupstraight,withadeterminedlookinhiseye.“I know it is early,” Khshayarsha said, “but are any of my advisors already in the courtyard?”
As it happened, O Reader, the Hamana, pleased with himself, had bestirred himself early and was waiting eagerly in the courtyard for the king’s own rising. The self-styled “Magnificent One” could hardly contain himself to ask the king for the death—today!—of that
“Magnificent!” observed the king. “The man who saved my very life deserves all that you have said, and more. You are my highest noble, so I give you this charge: Go at once, waste no time. Take my robesofoffice,proceedtomystablesandprocureoneof my own mounts, do not leave out anything you have said. To the letter, fulfill this outstanding tribute for the honored servant who sits at the Gate of the King, Mordecai the Jew. Lead him through the streets of Shushen and proclaim before him: ‘This is what is done to the man whom Khshayarsha delights to honor!’”
Satisfied, the king turned away, pleased that he could correct this slight to Marduka and looking forward to telling Esetare all about it at her second banquet that evening.
The Hamana also turned, but toward the doorway, seethinginsideattheindignityofthistopsy-turvyorder. Publicly exalt the very man whom he was about to destroy? He burned with shame and rage but vowed to himselfthathisultimaterevengewouldbeallthegreater when he finally snuffed out the life of this insufferable Marduka.
CancerTherapyon theHorizon
One of the most difficult diseases to treat is the allencompassing category of Cancer. Heart disease, diabetes, pulmonary defects, vitamin deficiencies, even some auto-immune diseases have given up some or most of their secrets: their causes and their chemical, metabolic, or physiologicderangements.Andspecifictherapiescanaddress or correct these abnormalities. But cancer defies description. Without an understanding of its cause or basic cellular or metabolic derangement, specific therapies cannot be designed to target the causes or specific derangements. Therefore, the treatment of cancer has been pragmatic: cut it out if it’s a solid tumor, stamp it out with chemicals if it’s a blood cancer, or poison it with chemicals or burn it with radiation if it’s inoperable.
Operations have to be very carefully delineated to remove only the tumor but not healthy tissue. However, cancer can be enmeshed in the healthy tissue (like pancreatic cancer) or hidden in deep recesses of the body (like brain tumors and eye tumors)makingsurgicalremovalimpossible. Because cancer cells are so similar to healthy tissue, finding chemotherapies that destroycancerouscellsbutnothealthycellsis extremely difficult. Because cancers grow rapidly, chemotherapies are designed to target rapidly growing cells. But many cells of the body rapidly grow: red cells of the blood, white cells of bone marrow and other immune system organs (i.e., spleen, liver, lung), the hair/nails of the skin, and the lining of the gut. Therefore, these chemotherapies cause all too familiar side effects that become the common experience of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy – and their families. Radiation that destroys the cellular structure of cancercells,alsodestroyscellsofothertissuesthroughwhich the radiation passes getting to cancer cells. When radiation is focused on a cancer target from several directions, the damage to cancer cells can be much greater with lesser damage to surrounding healthy tissue. But damage is still a major limiting effect of radiation.
haveproteinsonthesurfaceoftheircellsnotusuallyfoundin the human body. White B-cells attach chemicals called antibodiestotheforeignproteinstoformantigensthatattract white T-cells. The T-cells, using these antigens as “handles,” attach to these “marked” cancer cells and destroy them.
Butcancercellsbeingsosimilartohealthycells,whitecells have difficulty in recognizing cancer cells as invaders. Advances in immunology – recognizing how “invader-ism” works – have given rise to more targeted immune markers that have been extremely effective in some blood cancers.
OneofthenewesttherapiesisChimericAntigenReceptorT cell – CAR-T cell therapy. Basically, the patient’s T-cells are collected and subjected to genetic modification by adding a gene to the T-cell’s DNA. These modified CAR-T cells now recognize the “foreign” proteins on the cancer cell surface, attachtothese“handles,”anddestroythem.Thismodalityhas been especially effective in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Bcell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. This therapyiscurrentlybeingadaptedtootherbloodcancersand other easy-to-reach solid tumors.
Theranostics (or theragnostics) – another field of advancing cancer therapy – pairs two tools of diagnosis and treatment into a team therapy approach. The growing field of diagnostic imaging, like CT, MRI, PET scans, SPECT scans, creates pictures and 3-D images that determine the specific size, shape, and location of cancers. Then, radiation “seeds” are placed next to the cancer on multiple sides that irradiate the tumor but cause minimal damage to surrounding tissues. Or, external ionizing radiationofvarioustypesaremoreaccurately focused from multiple directions from outside the body (exposing “pass through” tissues to much less radiation) to target cancer cells withhighlevels ofradiation.This therapy is especially effective in cancers inside an organ – like the prostate – before the cancer metastasizes into the rest of the body.
Athirdcancertreatmentespeciallyforhardto-treat brain cancer is Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). For 75 years, this therapy has been only theoretical, specificallytoplacetheelementboroninsidecancerousbrain cells. Boron loves to collect stray neutrons into its atomic structure. This modified boron breaks down into helium and lithium which destroys the cancer cell. Investigative chemists are making advances in how best to insert boron into the cancerous brain cells only, not into healthy cells. When a stream of neutron radiation is aimed at the brain, the neutrons are taken up only in the cancer cells and they are destroyed. Not yet practical, this is the new horizon of brain cancer treatment.
Inthelast40years,advancementshavebeenmadefighting against the elusive monster of cancer. White cells – the soldiersofthebody–aredesignedtofindanddestroyforeign invaders: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and cancers. These invaders
Ifyoushoulddeveloptheneedforcancertherapy,askyour physician if any of these therapies is applicable to your case. Youcouldbecomepartofastudyortrialthatcouldsaveyour life.
A.M.E.N.
by Tom Arany
work that will grow and deepen until the whole earth is filled with His glory.”
Last month this column spotlighted ASI (The AdventistLaymen's Services & Industries organization.) Although not a direct affiliate of the General Conference of SDA (SeventhdayAdventists),AMENisoneoftheASImembers.AMENis a network of Adventist medical professionals in many places in the world and exists to equip primarily physicians and dentists and other healthcare professionals to be effective medical evangelists through:
1) Inspiring healthcare professionals to share Christ in their medical experience whenever possible. This may happen by offering to pray with the patient/client. The professional might point the patient to the power of God to work together with the professional and the patient to heal –whetheritisphysical,mental,emotional,orsomeotherneed. The professional may lead the patient to a more healthful lifestyle and to the encouragement available in the church family. They may offer spiritually healthful literature and follow-up support focused on many different areas that will enable the patient to grow spiritually through continuing wellness practices.
2) Connecting healthcare professionals A) through its annualconference(nextconferenceisOctober30-November 2, 2025 in Hilton Head Island, SC). B) AMEN also offers a mentorship program, details of which may be found by contacting the organization at the address(es) shown at the end of this article.
3) Providing Christ-centered medical evangelism resources.Theseresourcesaretohelpthepractitionergrowin their abilities to develop their skills and to become comfortableinputting“intouse the practices” mentioned above.
4) Uniting with local congregations to offer free dental, vision, and medical outreach clinics. To better accomplish this AMEN has mobile dental and vision “clinics” that may be used to bring specialized equipment to the local area. These resources are especially needed because the insurance that many persons use and depend on to cover standard medical examinations does not include dental or optical coverages.
5)Supplyingfollow-upresourcesforusebythechurchfor personal contact with participants in the free clinic or other medical care.
For membership or other information contact: AMEN (Adventist Medial Evangelism Network), P.O. Box 2528, Greenville, TN 37744. phone: 530-883-8061. website: amensda.org
IntheDarkestHour –Hope
by Max Hammonds
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Nomedicalconditioncausesfearquitelikethediagnosis of cancer. Cancer is quite common, actually. Everyone has cancer – an excessively overactive, even deadly growth of normal body tissue which threatens to derail the usual growth processes, consume all energy, and eventually destroy the human. But the white cells of the immune system–thesoldiercells–areonconstantguardagainstthe invasion of outside foreign material, like viruses, bacteria, and fungi and against the multiplication of cancer cells internally. Every day the white cells recognize these abnormal growths as “not me” and destroy them – most of the time.
When the immune system is weakened – by lack of sleep, by chronic overwork, by serious or longstanding illness or when the system no longer functions optimally in older age, the white cells do not function as they should – and cancer is not detected and not destroyed as a result. (For more details, see the Health Article this month.)
drugs: Etoposide, Platinol, Oncovin, and Hydroxyurea, commonly referred to as E.P.O.H. The oncologist with the 22% success rate told his patients he was giving them EPOH.Buttheoncologistwiththe74%successratetoldhis patients he was giving them HOPE. He emphasized how thiscombinationofmedicinesgavethemagoodchancefor survival, because having HOPE has an incredible effect on howwellapatientrecovers.NothavingHOPEhadanequal effect on a patient – for the worst.
But even more deadly is another kind of cancer – the Cancer of Sin. From the Fall of our earliest forebears –Adam and Eve, we are all susceptible to, and very quickly develop this deadly condition. We all have our “soldiers” guarding us against this deadly malady: God’s Holy Word, our angels who guard and protect us every day, and our parentsandelderswhoareawareofthisconditionandwho warn us of the dangers of this deadly situation and inform us of the available cure.
Unfortunately, our soul’s “soldiers” can also be made weaker and ineffective by sleeping through their warnings, by overworking to gain the approval of the world, and by repeated ignoring their presence in our lives.
Fortunately,wealsohaveHOPE.WehaveGodtheWord (John 1:1) who set aside His god-ness (Phil 2:6, 7), took on humanflesh(John1:14)asJesustheChrist,andbecameour “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24). We also have God the Holy Spirit, promised to us by Jesus (John 14:16, 17). Through His power(Eph.3:16),weareconvincedofourneedforaSavior (John 16:8), empowered to grow in love (Eph. 4:11-16), and prepared to partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3, 4). And finally, we have God the Father who loved us and sent His Son to die for us (1 John 4:10), and Who sent the Holy Spirit to mentor us (John 14:16,17),transformus(Rom. 12:2), and grow our characters to be like Him (1 John 4:16, 17).
One of the most difficult of medical specialties is oncology – cancer therapy. For physicians in this specialty, treatmenttherapiesarenothardtounderstandorprescribe. But the need to be constantly upbeat with patients who are notgettingbetterandthedifficultyinexplainingtopatients that they are going to get a few more months of life, not a few more years, is as hard on the physician as it is on the patients.
Now comes the story of two oncologists comparing notes on the treatment of their cancer patients. Both used the same drugs, the same dosages, and the same criteria for treatment. But one oncologist’s success rate was 22%. And the other oncologist’s success rate was 74%.
Both used what was then the standard combination of
Father,Son,andHolySpirit are our Heavenly Operators to Procure Eternity (HOPE). Therefore, we are “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds”(Titus 2:13, 14).
Having HOPE has an incredible effect on how soon and howwellwerecoverfromthepainandsufferingofSin.And not having HOPE has an equal and opposite effect on us –for the worst. Ask fervently, seek earnestly, knock urgently on the door of the HOPE Trio of Heaven. They are eagerly waiting to answer your request – for HOPE.
Our family focus this month features Andrew (Drew) and Alyssa Tryon. They joined the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church in the spring of 2024.
DrewwasborninWildwood,Georgia.Hisfatherwasadoctor,andtheymovedaround a lot while he was growing up. When Drew was nine years old, his father opened his own practiceinwesternNorthCarolina.Hehasoneoldersister,oneyoungerbrother,andone younger sister. Drew attended the Arden SDA Church during this time.
Alyssa was born and raised in San Diego, California. She and her family lived outside San Diego out in the country. She has one younger sister and one younger brother.
DrewattendedCaptainGilmerSchool,FletcherAcademy,andalsoattendedAndrews UniversitymajoringinArchitecturedesign.AlyssaattendedRamonaElementarySchool, Olive Peirce Middle, and Ramona High School all in San Diego County. She received her Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting from a community college.
Drew has worked as an architectural designer for twenty-six years, doing residential design of homes, commercial work, and a large auditorium. Alyssa’s Dad did landscape construction, and she worked with him for ten years. She has worked in landscape design for eighteen years. Since being married, Drew and Alyssa own their own business –Design Lab 314 – working in Arizona, primarily in the Sedona and Phoenix areas. She does drafting work and landscape design for the properties in Arizona that she and Drew work on together.
DrewandAlyssamet6½yearsagoinan“EmotionalIntelligence”courseinSanDiego. Hewastakingthecourseandshewasa“coach”forthe class. They have been married for four years and have a two year-old son named Theo. They are also expecting another baby in June, 2025! Drew has a twenty-one year-old daughter, Kait, from a previous marriage.
While living in Phoenix, Arizona, their son Theo would crawl to the door, wanting to go outside where itcouldbe120degrees.TheydecidedthatPhoenixwas just too hot and large for them and moved to western North Carolina area where his parents live. Drew said Arden church member Cari Hammonds was his “adoptive” mother (she didn’t really adopt him but was close to him) andwassosweetandsupportiveofhimovertheyears.Hewantedtobeclosertoheralso.
Their hobbies are hiking, camping, backpacking, drawing, painting – and he enjoys rock climbing. They have enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, San Diego, California and Phoenix, Arizona.
Raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, Drew felt he had drifted away from God. He said COVID was a wakeup call which brought him back to God – for which he is thankful.
Alyssa was brought up with Christian values and morals, but without God at the center. When she met Drew, she wanted to know more about the Adventists whom she did not know and started asking Drew questions. His answers about what Adventists believe made sense to her. She took a Bible study class with Pastor Paul Blake of the Paradise Valley SDA Church in Arizona where Drew was a member, learning about the Sabbath and other SDA beliefs. She joined the Paradise Valley SDA Church, when she was baptized three years ago.
They decided to visit a few Adventist churches in our area but came back to Arden, feeling it was a good fit. They feel Arden has so much for children and young people and felt it would be good for Theo. They take Theo to the Beginner Sabbath School led by Carisa Belanger. Drew also teaches in the Earliteen Class. Both are on the social committee.
We are so happy the Tryons have joined the Arden church, and we welcome them to the Arden church family.
ArdenSeventh-dayAdventistChurch IsaSafePlacetoGrow.
Our Purpose is, by God’s Grace, to reflect His character in our community, to demonstrate a quality of life that will attract all to be reconciled to Jesus Christ, and to encourage people to become His loving, maturing disciples.
Grace Notes Editorial Staff:
Max Hammonds...............................................Editor
Chris Small.................................................Columnist
Jean Davey..................................................Columnist
Max Hammonds..................Reporter & Columnist
Pen Braister-Sturgis.....................................Reporter
Sara McCord.................................................Reporter
Dan Reynolds...............................................Reporter
Arizona McCord...............Reporter & Proofreader
Chris Small .....................................Special Graphics
Jim & Carolyn Sullenberger................Proofreaders
Nolan Darnell........................Mailing Management
Shirley Wallstrom...................Circulation Manager
Whitney Barron.................................Layout Design
Comments, suggestions and praises are always welcome. Please email or contact the church office.
Services each Saturday morning: Sabbath School Bible Study, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service, 10:45 a.m.
Location: 35 Airport Road, Arden, NC 28704 Located on Highway 280, (Airport Road), 1.5 miles east of I-26 exit 40, and a quarter mile west of Highway 25.
Church Office:
Office Manager: Whitney Barron Telephone: (828) 684-6700
Email: office@ardenadventist.org
Website: www.ardenadventist.org
Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs.,10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Arden Adventist Pastoral Staff: Senior Pastor: Eric Bates, D. Min. Email: ebates@carolinasda.org
Associate/Youth Pastor: Rich Maskelony, M .Div. Email: rmaskelony@carolinasda.org
GraceNotesis published monthly by the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church. Subscription is free by calling or emailing the office.†Doyou have questions about what Adventists believe? Would you like to become a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Would you like to study the Bible? You are invited to attend a Pastor’s Bible Study Class. Please call for location and time. All are always welcome.
† Disclaimer—The contents of Grace Notes, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained in this magazine of the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the use of specific medical or Lifestyle Medicine interventions, or about questions you may haveregardingamedicalcondition.Neverdisregardprofessional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of information published in this magazine. Neither Grace Notes nor the Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church recommend or endorse any specific tests, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in published articles. Relianceonanyinformationprovidedissolelyatyourownrisk. If you have a medical emergency, call your healthcare provider or911immediately.
ALONE, NOT LONELY
We were created for community, and nothing so upsets us as required isolation from the people who bring color,warmth,andhopeintoourlives.
The world has quickly grown uncomfortably, unhappily too small. WehuddlewithourlovedonesandthankGodthatweseemhealthy. Buteachofusknowsstories,nowcomingdangerouslyclose,ofillness, fear,andexistentialpanic.
Suddenly, we miss the colleague who so regularly annoyed us; the relativewhomadeinconvenient,unannouncedvisits;thefriendlypatter whenwemetourneighborsinthemarketoronthestreet.Thesights andsounds,therhythmsandroutinesoflifeamonthagowereoddly comfortingwhenwecouldsafelytakethemallforgranted.
Andtime—thereseemstobetoomuchofit;open,unplanned,unsure hours when thoughts turn endlessly to wondering: What if? What outcome?Andwhatthen?
“I willnever leave you nor forsake you,” the Father said to Israel (Joshua1:5).“Remember,Iamwithyoualways,”theSonpromisedHis disciples.(Matthew28:20).“YouknowHim,”JesussaidoftheSpirit, “becauseHeabideswithyou,andHewillbeinyou”(John14:17). Eternal lovestillholdsus.
There is no better company than Father, Son, and Spirit. Held and healed,warmed,enlightened,wecanweatheranycrisis,anyquandary, anyvirus.
Sostayingrace.
BillKnot
CookTime:20minutes Servingsize:About1cup
INGREDIENTS
1Tbsp-Extravirginoliveoil
1Cup-Carrots,chopped
1mediumonion,chopped
11/2tsp-Choppedgarlic
3Cups-Water
128-oz.canlow-sodiumtomatoes,cutup
115-oz.canlow-sodiumkidneybeans,drained
115-oz.canlow-sodiumblackbeans,drained
115-oz.canlow-sodiumpintobeans,drained
115-oz.canwholekernelcorn,nosaltadded,drained
16-oz.cantomatopaste,nosaltadded
1Tbsp-Dijonmustard
1tsp-Pepper(optional)
1tsp-Groundcumin
1tsp-Driedoregano
1tsp-Driedbasil
1tsp-Chilipowder
Liquidsmoke,totaste(1to2dashes)
1Cup-Choppedzucchini
DIRECTIONS
Inaskillet,heatoliveoilandsautéchoppedcarrots,onionsandgarlic untiltender.
Inalargepot,combinesautéedvegetablemixturewithremaining ingredients,exceptthezucchini.Bringtoaboil.
Reduceheatandsimmercoveredfor10minutes.Stirinzucchiniand simmercoveredfor10minutesmore.
BiBle AlphABet Stew
Insert a different letter of the alphabet into each of the 26 empty boxes to form words of five or more letters reading across. The letter you insert may be at the beginning, the end, or in the middle of the word. Each letter of the alphabet will be used only once. Cross off each letter in the list as you use it. All the letters in each row are not necessarily used in forming the word. Use the Bible clue (NASB) when you are stuck, but NOT before you have gone through the entire list. Example: In the first row across we have inserted the letter U to form the word MURDER.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
D E C L O M U R D E R B Y (Ex. 20:13)
I M P R O P E C Y T H M (Dan. 9:24)
S I N U R E G N E D R A (1 Sam. 13:1)
B A G S A B A T H E N S (Neh. 10:31)
I B R A N S E R O N D I (Psa. 27:7)
T Y B O N E H O R T U S (1 Cor. 4:16)
M E M B E R L I D E N T (Eze. 1:16)
R S I M B A T I S M E N (Mark 1:4)
D B U G J U G M E N T R (Luk. 11:32)
M O I S T U B L E A D S (Isa. 8:15)
Q U B E W A E C K O R M (Mat. 6:1)
L G R A M A E D M A N P (Joh. 3:7)
P R K E X R E E P S E A (Deu. 7:9)
S L I M I N O C E N T B (Jer. 2:35)
W A P O P E C E M E N D (Hag. 2:9)
P O L A M A E S T Y R O (1 Chr. 29:11)
C R E M A L R O S S P J (Num. 35:10)
K R U L A C U I R E A R (Pro. 4:5)
D R U W O R H I P T U N (Zec. 14:16)
V S T A F F C T I O N H (1The. 2:8)
I G R A C O E T O U S M (Eph. 5:5)
F A C T O N U E O S O R (Jam. 3:5)
D I M A D E I L E A R N (Lev. 18:30)
R A M B E H L D Y S O K (Amo. 8:11)
B R O W R A H E S T L Y (Hab. 3:2)
I B A L S A V A T I O N (2 Sam. 22:3)
GRACE N TES
Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church 35 Airport Road
Arden, North Carolina 28704
(828) 684-6700
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“Since this is the means by which we are to receive the power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer petition to God.”